"It was my fellow servant and bed fellow," answered Janet. "We were
like sisters together, and if ever I ailed aught she tended me as
fondly as thou couldst thyself, mother. Today, when we rose, she
complained of headache and a feeling of illness; but we went down
and took our breakfast below with the rest. At least I took mine as
usual, though she did but toy with her food. Then all of a sudden
she put her hand to her side and turned ghastly white, and fell off
her chair. A scullery wench set up a cry, 'The plague! the plague!'
and forthwith they all fled this way and that--all save me, who
could not leave her thus. I made her swallow some hot cordial which
I think they call alexiteric water, and which is said to be very
beneficial in cases of the distemper; and she was able to crawl
upstairs after a while to her bed once more, where I put her. I
knew not for some hours what was passing in the house, though I
heard a great commotion there, and presently there stole in a
mincing physician who attends my lady, holding a handkerchief
steeped in vinegar to his nose, and smelling like an apothecary's
shop. He looked at poor Patience, who lay in a stupor, heeding
none, and he directed me to uncover her neck for him to see if she
had the tokens upon her. There had been none when I put her to bed
again, so that I had hoped it was but a colic or some such
affection; but, alas, when I looked at his direction, there were
the black swellings plainly to be seen. Forthwith he fled with
indecent haste, and only stopped to say he would send a nurse and
such remedies as should be needful."

"O my child! and thou wast with her all the time!--thou didst even
touch and handle her?"